14 October 2004 -- Russia is opening a new military base in Tajikistan, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov announced today.
Ivanov said the base will open this weekend, and that it will be formed out of an infantry division that has been based in the Central Asian country since before the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Tajik President Imomali Rakhmanov acknowledged yesterday that Tajikistan had made such an agreement with Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to visit Tajikistan this weekend, where he is expected to sign several economic and military agreements with Tajik officials.
(RFE/RL's Tajik Service and staff/AP)
Tajik President Imomali Rakhmanov acknowledged yesterday that Tajikistan had made such an agreement with Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to visit Tajikistan this weekend, where he is expected to sign several economic and military agreements with Tajik officials.
(RFE/RL's Tajik Service and staff/AP)